Instrument Illumination Sockets???

[nograin]

Are the illumination bulb holders in the 1981-85 instrument panel different from other wedge bulb holders?

On my '85, they are blue, and none of the other holders I have seem to fit.




Stealing pictures from other threads.
1974 circuit board appears to have typical 1/2" socket in the upper left.


1984 (deckroid's)


1978

[nograin]

My best guess is the lugs are wider.

[Cecil14]

On my '83, I'm pretty sure (I'll have to dig through the harness in a bit to confirm 100%) that the warning lights (Brake, 4wd, etc.) are push in sockets, not the twist in like the turn signals and gauge lighting. With the gauge board and twist sockets in front of me, the twist sockets will not fit securely in the warning light holes.


aa

[Ristow]

yes,there are different sizes. you can see the holes are different in the pics you posted.

[nograin]

Agree. Some of them - the indicators - have 5/8" dia holes.

I tried using what I thought was a standard socket for the 1/2" holes and it didn't work. Maybe I've got some notes from when I took that photo. Only missing one, but its annoying.

[Cecil14]

I'm sure I have some extras in a spare harness. I'll dig through my pile of wiring in a bit. Shoot me a PM and I'll let you know what I find. If I've got what you need, I'll throw it in the mail tomorrow.


aa

[nograin]

Quick update.
All of the block bulb holders in my collection were for 5/8" panel holes.
Removed a bulb holder from the GW and measured using a steel rule.
Definately for 1/2" holes. 15/32" across. The retaining lugs are 9/16" across and about 1/4" wide.
The contacts stand out just a bit beyond the 5/8" diameter outside diameter of the holder.
Similar ones from other years, makes and models should work, even though they are not blue.

[Rooney77]

Quick update.
All of the block bulb holders in my collection were for 5/8" panel holes.
Removed a bulb holder from the GW and measured using a steel rule.
Definately for 1/2" holes. 15/32" across. The retaining lugs are 9/16" across and about 1/4" wide.
The contacts stand out just a bit beyond the 5/8" diameter outside diameter of the holder.
Similar ones from other years, makes and models should work, even though they are not blue.

On my 81 the parking brake light and emergency drive light sockets were bigger/different than all the other cluster lights.

[Cliff]

Dorman has an exact replacement bulb socket that fits my 77 dash. I think the dash illumination and turn signals use this size. Part #85835. I found this at Advance Auto Parts. They also use the brand name Conduct-Tite.

[Cecil14]

Dorman has an exact replacement bulb socket that fits my 77 dash. I think the dash illumination and turn signals use this size. Part #85835. I found this at Advance Auto Parts. They also use the brand name Conduct-Tite.

Yes, the standard illumination sockets and the turn signals are the same. The warning bulbs (4wd, emergency drive, seat belts, and brakes) are different, though. Those four use a different, larger socket. On my '83 they use a push in style socket with separate wiring going to the various switches, instead of running of the traces on the PCB.


aa

[nograin]

Dorman has an exact replacement bulb socket that fits my 77 dash. I think the dash illumination and turn signals use this size. Part #85835. I found this at Advance Auto Parts. They also use the brand name Conduct-Tite.

Thanks Cliff. I couldn't find a Help! catalog of any use. Looks just right and I don't have to mail order.

[nograin]

The Dorman 85835 didn't seem to catch when turned in. Since I was working blind, didn't want to force anything. I was most concened that by trying to force it, the contacts could damage the board.



Comparing the new Dorman to the broken original, it seemed like I could swap the contacts.

The ones from the Dorman socket pulled right out.
The ones from the factory socket, not so.

They appear to have been molded in. Time for surgical removal with the help of an Xacto razor saw.


Turns out they have different width...


More cutting and carving.


...and they have different depths as well.


So at the bottom filled in support and retained the clips with a little epoxy paste.
All done, I installed it without dropping the a/c or removing the panel. (It's a challenge but doable.)